This is a 10* NON-CONF TOW on the UNDER Wizards/Pelicans.

These teams have been involved in several higher-scoring games of late, but the overall situation that each finds itself in coming into this one, combined with some relevant/supporting O/U ATS stats, all point to this being a much more defensive battle than what the oddsmakers are trying to lead us to believe.

Washington is off a low-scoring 125-107 win over Chicago, and I think it'll carry that defensive momentum over here.

This is in fact the start of a home-and-home set between the clubs. The Pels are just 5-29 after their most recent 119-108 loss at Miami. New Orleans has seen the total go OVER in five straight, but note that looking back the Pels have seen the total go UNDER in four of their last five after playing to five or more straight OVERS in a row.

This is a game that each team will feel it actually has a legitimate shot at winning, and I believe this sense of competition will lead to a much more lower-scoring combined outcome than what this O/U line is suggesting.

The play is indeed on the UNDER.

Good luck, NP